Korean Job Discussion Forums

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

I have an idea of the questions I want to ask, but what kinds of questions did potential employers ask during your job interviews?

mnhnhyouh · Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Location: The Middle Kingdom

I was actually asked what my greatest weakness was. It is such a cliche question I didnt expect it.

Mostly, it seems to me, they just want to hear you talk, and the questions are standard..

Why do you want to come to Korea?

How much money do you expect?

How would you describe your teaching style?

Are you married?

Have you been to Korea (anywhere else) before?

There also seems to be some feeling out of how much you know about contracts and the ESL EFL industry.

h

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

EVERY interview has been mostly based on my appearance (good looks?- Wink

).

First hogwan- "When can you start?"
At least they asked for my resume.

Second hogwan- "When can you start?" and we discussed salary.
He glanced at my resume, but after three months of listening to the director tell me he has a business degree, (so he MUST know how to run a business, right? WRONG Wink

), I REMINDED him that I have a MASTERS degree. He seemed shocked, and told me he never actually read my resume. Whatever.

Third hogwan- "Is 2.0 enough?"
Didn't want to look at my resume and, well, let's just say, that interview was based SOLELY on my appearance.

BTW, 2.0 is a joke for an experienced "teacher."

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

Do you want to work here?

When can you start?

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

In my first interview I wasn't asked anything at all related to teaching. They just checked the info had sent them.
Second interview I was asked what my teaching philosophy was Laughing

ilovebdt

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

No interview, even for the public school. I filled in the forms, wrote a 500 word essay, took the medical exam...and that was that.

Mea · Joined: 24 Mar 2006

I've had a few "interviews," and usually the director just talks about how great his/her school is.

spyro25 · Joined: 23 Nov 2004

interview with PNU was actually quite involved. they picked through my resume piece by piece and asked questions on each point. they were particularly interested in my universities' distance MA TESOL course, as they probably want to get into e-learning more and was hoping i could give them some pointers.

other hagwon jobs just asked 'when can you start'?

trinity24651 · Joined: 05 Nov 2006

Most of the interviews that I had was with a Korean that spoke little English. So there was a lot of hello's, giggling, "how are you's" and how soon can I start? Finished off with about 3 goodbye's!!!

Oreovictim · Joined: 23 Aug 2006

Why are you interested in Korea?

Are you in a relationship?

How many people are in your family?

That was it. I kid you not.

Novernae · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

Woken up at 6AM after having been woken up by the same recruiter 4 hours earlier: "Are you enthusiastic teacher?"
My husband: "uhhh, yes?"
Recruiter: "Good! You come next week!"

The first school never interviewed us, they just took the word of the recruiter.

Our present school was pretty much being interviewed by us. Our boss recently confided in us that she was so nervous when she got off the phone with us that she felt she had just been through a job interview.

The Hammer · Posted: Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:33 am Post subject:

The number 3 guy (3rd from the president) at my uni asked me this question...

You like to go to Thailand and party with young girls, don't you?

Becka · Joined: 28 Sep 2005

We were the ones with the questions, not the schools!

voth · Joined: 05 Jan 2006

Not to sound stupid, but I take it a majority of these interviews were phone based with little or no face time once you reveived an offer. Am I correct in my assumption?

Has anyone been required to present sample lesson plans or other things one might expect from someone wishing to teach? What about play acting with an interviewer to see how you respond to students of any age?

Somewhat off topic: Does anyone have experience in Korea, China, or Japan with children with special needs? How have you handled these kids? Were these students in a classroom of their own or were they mixed with the other children?

ACT III · Joined: 14 Nov 2006

I've had two phone interviews, the school I didn't pursue asked

"The earliest I could get to korea?" and stated "Since you have no training or experience with children we'll have to train you..." (I assumed pay less)

It was a fairly odd to me since they offered the job without asking any questions. The job I did end up going with was very in-depth during the phone interview. They asked about my CELTA, how did my double major help in my teaching endeavors during the course, my previous work experience and the all important "why korea?" Also they didn't offer me the job straight up.

I personally felt much more comfortable with the extra scrutiny. But upon reflection, maybe I'm a sucker for going with the one that played hard to get. Oh well, if it ends up bad I'll just chalk it up as a 'rookie mistake'.